Multiple sclerosis in Brazil: a systematic review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects young adults, causing inflammation of the white and gray matter of the central nervous system (CNS) by means of an autoimmune reaction triggered by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Although MS is considered polygenic disease [1], the human leukocyte antigen class II genes, the DR2 haplotype alleles in particular, are the ones most frequently associated with greater susceptibility to the disease [2]. Among the environmental factors, the most frequent identified as trigger of MS were: the influence of smoking, stress, hygienic conditions, immunizations, and viral infections; additionally poor exposure to the sun in the world ’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes and consequent vitamin D deficiency has been investigated.
Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Source Type: research